SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Despite a courageous effort and multiple players achieving two-hit games, the Utah Utes fell to the USC Trojans, 7-6, in a nail-biting contest Tuesday in the Pac-12 Tournament at Scottsdale Stadium.
The No. 7 seed Utes, who now hold a 32-22 record, are set to wrap up Pool Play with a game against the No. 3 seed Oregon Ducks. The upcoming match is scheduled for Wednesday, with the first pitch at 3:30 p.m. MDT (2:30 p.m. local time in Scottsdale).
Outstanding performances from Core Jackson, Kai Roberts, Kaden Carpenter, and Bruer Webster highlighted the day, each contributing two hits to Utah’s offense. Roberts notched his 21st double of the season, leading the team, while Carpenter impressed with a solo home run in the eighth inning and a total of two RBIs for the game. Webster also made significant contributions, crossing the plate twice.
Freshman pitcher Payton Riske took the mound for his first collegiate start, delivering a solid five innings of work by allowing only three runs on five hits and a walk, complemented by three strikeouts of Trojan batters. Despite his efforts, USC managed to overcome their deficit later in the game.
USC initiated the scoring with an RBI single in the second inning, but Utah quickly responded with a flurry of runs. Highlight plays included Drake Digiorno’s safety squeeze that scored Webster, tying the game, and a USC error that enabled Roberts to score. Consecutive RBI singles from Webster and Jackson in the fourth inning, followed by Carpenter’s hit in the fifth, extended Utah’s lead to 5-1.
Riske showcased resilience by retiring nine consecutive Trojan batters, but USC clawed back into the game with successive scoring drives, ultimately reducing Utah’s lead to a single run by the end of the sixth inning.
Utah saw an opportunity to extend its lead in the seventh with two runners in scoring position and no outs. However, a double play and a strikeout squandered the chance. Carpenter’s home run in the eighth widened the gap briefly before USC mounted a comeback with four hits and a sacrifice fly to clinch the game by a slender one-run margin.
As the Utes prepare to face Oregon in their next Pool Play game of the Pac-12 Tournament, fans are encouraged to support the team on social media (@utahbaseball) and tune in to the broadcast on the Pac-12 Network and ESPN 700 AM / 92.1 FM for live coverage.